Shloka 137
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
तत्पुरे चैकमेवास्य गृहं यदधितिष्ठति । गृहे शयनमप्येक॑ निशायां यत्र लीयते
tatpure caikamevāsya gṛhaṁ yad adhitiṣṭhati | gṛhe śayanam apy ekaṁ niśāyāṁ yatra līyate ||
ビーシュマは言った。「その都にあってさえ、彼が住まう住まいはただ一つ。しかもその住まいの内にある寝床もただ一つ—夜ごと彼がそこへ退いて眠るためのものにすぎぬ。ここで描かれるのは、節制し過ぎを避ける生き方である。都の繁栄のただ中にあっても、持ち物は真に必要なものに限るべきなのだ。」
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes moderation and non-accumulation: even when one has access to the comforts of a city, one should keep one’s needs limited—one dwelling, one bed—cultivating contentment and freedom from greed.
Bhīṣma is describing an idealized mode of living (or the conduct of a disciplined person): the person resides in a city yet maintains minimal personal arrangements—only one residence and one sleeping place—illustrating ethical self-control.